The Phoenix Sect basked under the radiant sun, unaware that its brightest days were behind it. For within its ranks now walked a shadow with the face of a saint and the soul of the abyss. Xie Wang, clad in white robes so clean they mocked their wearer's sins, stepped through the sect with an expression calm and pleasant. He greeted every elder, disciple, and servant with grace and humility. Behind each word, however, was the whisper of ruin.
He had already memorized every name, every face. Strength, weaknesses, secret relationships, hidden injuries — all carefully cataloged by the System. He knew who was loved, who was envied, who could be tempted, and who could be broken. All he needed now… was time.
> [System Notification: Influence Web Expansion – 7 nodes established. 3 targets vulnerable to manipulation. Loyalty shift initiated.]
---
In the outer courtyard, a small group of low-ranking disciples were training. Among them, a young man named Chen Hui struggled to keep up. His punches were sloppy. His footing weak. But his heart was pure — he trained day and night for his sick sister, who lived in the servant quarters.
Xie Wang approached him with a gentle smile.
"Your form is strong, but your energy leaks at each strike. May I show you?"
Chen Hui blinked. No one had ever spoken to him with such kindness. He bowed quickly. "P-Please, Senior!"
Xie Wang guided his form, spoke of balance and breathing, and then handed him a crimson pill.
"This will help your meridians recover faster. Give half to your sister. She'll walk again within three days."
Tears welled in Chen Hui's eyes. "I… I don't know how to repay you."
Xie Wang's smile deepened, soft as moonlight. "Then don't. Just remember me when others forget you."
> [System Notification: New Follower Bound – Chen Hui. Loyalty: 85%. Hidden Condition Triggered: Self-Sacrifice Personality Detected. Future betrayal of others for MC likely.]
Xie Wang turned away, thoughts calm. 'He'll betray his entire sect for a false savior. I only need to push the right moment.'
---
Within the spiritual garden, Xie Wang found Elder Ming — a quiet herbal master whose daughter had been taken by enemy sects years ago. Her absence had driven him half-mad. The man knelt among spirit roots, muttering broken prayers.
Xie Wang kneeled beside him.
"Elder Ming," he said gently. "What would you give to see your daughter again?"
The old man stared, bloodshot eyes wide.
"W-What do you mean? She's… she's dead. Taken by the Bone Flute Sect."
"I said see, not save."
The old man's hands trembled. "Anything… Anything to see her again…"
Xie Wang smiled faintly. "Then tonight, come to my courtyard. Burn no incense. Bring a lock of her hair, or a talisman she once wore. And I'll show you a miracle."
> [System: New Pawn Engaged. Trauma Triggered. Elder Ming susceptible to soul-binding techniques. Suggested Path: Necromantic Delusion.]
That evening, Xie Wang used the Soul Mirage Crystal to recreate the girl's appearance, voice, even her scent. Elder Ming fell to his knees, weeping. He kissed the illusion's hands. He clung to her body as she smiled and spoke. He never noticed the Abyssal Slave Mark being etched into his soul during the ritual.
When the illusion vanished, Xie Wang embraced him.
"She cannot stay long. But I can bring her again. Each time, clearer. Each time, longer. Serve me, and you serve her."
> [System Notification: Elder Ming enslaved. Loyalty 93%. Mental stability compromised.]
Xie Wang whispered, "Emotion is the forge. Pain is the hammer. And I… am the smith."
---
In his underground chamber beneath the Phoenix Sect, Xie Wang expanded his experiments. A dozen cells lined the stone walls, each containing a female disciple — captured through deceit, blackmail, or loyalty gone too far.
Each girl was different — a healer, a sword prodigy, a naive alchemist, a proud martial sister. He visited each one in turn, never raising his voice. Never shouting.
Instead, he spoke gently, like a father to a child.
"Your talent was wasted in that sect. But now… I will shape you into perfection."
He stripped away their pride with illusions of failure. Let them relive the moment they disappointed their master, their family, their lover — over and over. Then he offered comfort.
"I alone still see your value. Do you understand?"
Some cried. Some resisted. Some begged.
All broke.
He used soul-lock cuffs, pain matrices, and pleasure triggers in delicate rhythm. Each girl became a piece of his collection — not because he hurt them, but because he made them love the pain. Depend on it. Crave his approval.
> [System Notifications: Slave Loyalty – Yu Mei (Alchemist): 100% Slave Loyalty – Lan Xue (Healer): 96% Slave Loyalty – Fei Yiran (Sword Disciple): 94% Total Evil Points Gained: +12,200 (Emotional and Mental Break Thresholds Crossed)]
---
A sect competition was held in the Inner Arena. Disciples dueled for prestige. Among them was Liu Ze, a prideful prodigy. When his men failed to assassinate Xie Wang, their bodies were returned—broken, tongue-less, their spines bent like reeds.
Xie Wang stood beside the Sect Grandmaster, smiling faintly as Liu Ze was dragged forward in chains.
"I do not seek punishment," Xie Wang said humbly. "Only justice for our sect."
Mo Tian frowned and expelled Liu Ze immediately.
> [System Notification: Political Elimination Complete. Reputation increased. Influence Web +3. New female follower: Liu Ze's cousin (Seeking Protection).]
---
In the days that followed, Xie Wang manipulated resource allocations, gifted rare pills to overlooked disciples, and healed injuries others ignored. Each act earned him another chain of loyalty.
He discovered the location of the Phoenix Vault — protected by a soul-marked elder.
So he poisoned the elder's grandson — slowly, subtly — and offered the cure in exchange for a single request: a spiritual imprint key.
The old man agreed.
> [System Notification: Phoenix Vault Elder marked. Soul Lock Active. Vault Entry Countdown: 17 Days.]
---
Later that night, Xie Wang entered his underground hall again. The girls awaited in silence — chained, trembling, eyes wide with confusion and need.
He passed them slowly.
"To hurt you is not my goal," he said. "To free you is."
And then he made them chant his name.
Again. And again.
Their voices filled the chamber — not in terror, but devotion warped through torment.
> [System Update: Cult of Suffering Established. Evil Points +7,800. Mind-Break Ritual Complete.]
Xie Wang stood above them, robes pristine.
'This is not cruelty,' he thought. 'This is perfection. I do not destroy the flower. I prune it. Bend it. And let it bloom in my hand — thorns and all.'
And his garden of broken angels grew ever more beautiful.